Studies and Monitoring

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park (NP), California, has its own unique environmental concerns based on its particular ecology. Air quality studies and monitoring programs at Lassen Volcanic NP focus on the deposition of nitrogen, sulfur, and toxic air contaminants including mercury. Click on the tabs below to review air quality studies and key scientific references at Lassen Volcanic NP, as well as to access information on air quality monitoring in the park.

Studies & Projects

Monitoring & Data

Key References

Ongoing research in Lassen Volcanic NP, California:

Nitrogen & Sulfur Impacts

Recent analyses indicate certain ecosystems like grasslands, meadows, and high-elevation lakes in the park are at risk from both acidification and excess nutrient effects from atmospheric deposition (Sullivan et al. 2011a; Sullivan et al. 2011b [pdf, 6.8 MB]; Sullivan et al. 2011c; Sullivan et al. 2011d [pdf, 2.6 MB]). Potential effects have not been evaluated in the park, but research in similar ecosystems has defined various thresholds, or critical loads, including: 3.1 kilograms per hectare of nitrogen deposition per year (kg/ha/yr) for forest lichens and 1.4 kg/ha/yr for alpine lakes (Fenn et al. 2010; Saros et al. 2011). Measured amounts of sulfur and nitrogen deposition at the park are below these critical loads, but very sensitive resources may be affected. find data »

Airborne Toxic, including Mercury, Impacts

Research findings from the Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project and follow-up work indicate the presence of airborne toxic contaminants in air, vegetation, water, and fish (Krabbenhoft et al. 2002; Landers et al. 2010; Landers et al. 2008). Follow-up research to examine the extent to which contaminants are causing abnormalities in reproductive organs in fish at Crater Lake NP and other parks is ongoing. Additionally, a study in progress to analyze mercury concentrations in fish from western national parks, including Lassen Volcanic NP, will fill address the extent of mercury contamination and identify potential risks to humans and fish-consuming wildlife (study overview [pdf, 699 KB]). The State Water Resources Control Board's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP), also surveyed contaminant accumulation in fish from California lakes and reservoirs, some in close proximity to Lassen Volcanic NP, and found that mercury and PCB concentrations pose the most widespread potential health risks to consumer of fish caught from California lakes (Davis et al. 2009 [pdf, 16.0 MB]).The Sierra Nevada-Southern Cascades (SNSC) Contaminants Workshop addressed regional concerns regarding contaminant distribution and effects. As a consequence, a research and monitoring strategy is being developed to examine conditions and trends in toxic air contaminants in the region.

Ground-Level Ozone Impacts

Ozone concentrations at the park are sometimes elevated. Previous research on Pinus jeffreyi (Jeffrey pine) and Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) observed foliar ozone injury on greater than 25 percent of the trees sampled (Arbaugh et al. 1998). More recently, the U.S. Forest Service has found ozone injury on trees examined near the park in Lassen County (Campbell et al. 2007 [pdf, 2.3 MB]). find data »